HP - Vocals, Guitar, the songsmith.
Jim - Bass, Beards, the voice of reason
Graham - Drums, Backing Vocals, the comedian.
Influences
Pavement, Elliott Smith, Stapleton, Ash, John Martyn, Blue Nile, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Mogwai, The Smiths, Death Cab for Cutie, Idlewild, Biffy Clyro.
Sounds Like
Hearts on sleves. Bum notes. Guitars that jingle jangle. Songs for dreamers and bedroom scheemers.
Infinite Spark are a three piece indie band from Edinburgh. Lead by song writer HP and featuring members of the spectral rock outfit Prose. This ramshackled trio play now and again round Edinburgh supporting the likes of Prose, Alfonzo, Miyagi and William Douglas. Infinite Spark want to enjoy being a band, on stage, in the studio, in the rehersal room. They hope they can pass some of that enjoyment on to you. Its important to have fun.
North Atlantic Oscillation's "Hollywood Has Ended", from the forthcoming album Grappling Hooks, is featured in this month's Police Box compilation from TenTracks. It's here:
In case you haven't heard, TenTracks is a new music delivery service where you can buy exclusive 10-track compilations for £1, i.e. a mere 10p per track.
This month NAO are in the illustrious company of the excellent Found, Orkestra Del Sol, Fence Collective luminaries James Yorkston and King Creosote and exactly 5 others. Once again, that's £1 for ALL TEN TRACKS. Not bad, really.
euchrid eucrow are an alt.folk three-piece from Brighton, featuring members of both Bat for Lashes and British Sea Power. They create sparse soundscapes that flit between harmony and dissonance - at once yearning and wholly captivating.
Two highlights from the recent Retreat! festival complete the bill - Emily Scott (who also featured on the line-up at this year's Connect festival), and the Wee Rogue.
Manchester's Amida have been compared to both the Pixies and the Magnetic Fields - due in part to their ability to wrench catchy pop from dark subject matter. This is exemplified on their debut mini-album 'Arts and Crafts' which, rattling through six tracks in under 13 minutes, has been described as "a masterclass in pop economy".
Pushing shiny pop hooks to a lo-fi aesthetic, the Just Joans create tales of heartache and teenage longing in small town Caledonia. Is This Music described their debut album (Last Tango In Motherwell) as "frankly staggering", and probably the best album of that year. This was followed by two mini-albums on the rather lovely Wee POP label: Virgin Lips and Hey Boy, You're So Sensitive.
The Occasional Flickers' main songwriter Giorgos Bouras recorded debut album 'Scattered Songs' in his native Greece. But it wasn't until he relocated to Greece and put together a new live band that the music truly felt at home. Imbued with the lyrical wit of Belle and Sebastian, but delivered in the off hand style of the Pastels - they're the best Scottish pop band to ever come out of Greece. Or maybe the best Greek pop band in Scotland. Either way, they're not to be missed.
Rags & Feathers recently supported a Hawk and a Hacksaw in Glasgow, and rather brilliant they were too. Note perfect folk-pop, kinda like the Handsome Family by way of Fairport Convention.
Ziggy Campbell fronts Edinburgh folktronic popsters FOUND. His solo performances tread a similar path, but the stripped back set-up helps place more emphasis on intimacy and experimentation, helped by his collection of home-made instruments and vintage loop pedals.
Having already recorded and released two albums this year (Apple Tits for Destuction - which has "a 60s vibe", and Dance, which is "mainly all circuit bent instruments and drums"), and with plans for two more (one abstract war concept album, and one straight forward indie), Les Enfant Bastard could just be the most prolific, if not the most diverse, artist in Scotland just now.
@ Stills Gallery (Cockburn Street) 7pm-10pm tickets £4 on the door / cheap beer!
The Declining Winter is a new musical project led by Richard Vincent Adams, co-founder of leftfield musical pioneers Hood - influenced by Low, The Durutti Column and York City FC.
Skip your tea for the magnificent, synth-laden 7VWWVW (aka MAMMAL), and Doogie Paul of James Yorkston and the Athletes upright bass infamy.
